LeapFrog Explorer Learning Game: Globe: Earth Adventures

Kids likely will enjoy LeapFrog Explorer Learning Game: Globe: Earth Adventures, especially if they're interested in maps and learning about different places. It's a wonderful opportunity to practice finding locations and navigating with directions. The grid activity that asks kids to find "C-4" (column C, row 4) or a similar location serves as an excellent introduction to reading a street map. Other games provide workouts in logical reasoning.

There are a few problem areas. In the quizzes, they're tested on information they may not have been given. Worse, they may not even know what items they're matching. For example, one quiz asks kids to match animals to their habitats, but they're never given the names of the animals (many of which will not be familiar) or the types of habitats (loosely represented in cartoon form on the map). Even if they can complete the map correctly within the time limit, they aren't learning anything about the animals, the habitats, or the country. This may be avoided by having kids use the Explore area before doing missions, but that isn't a guarantee. The Adventure Badges miss their potential as well. A badge of the Iditarod could tell kids a bit more about the race or the dogs. Instead, it only reminds them that they dropped off food for the animals. Even with these few annoyances, there's a lot of learning to be had, especially if kids focus on exploring and doing some of the Challenges.